SAVE
THE DATE: Greater Fort Lauderdale Marketing Plan Presentation
Mark your calendars for Thursday,
September 27 at 11:30am for the 2008 Greater Fort Lauderdale Marketing Plan
Presentation and Luncheon at the Broward County Convention Center. See what's
on the horizon for tourism sales, convention sales, multicultural business,
gay marketing, public relations and advertising as we gear up for a beach chic
year ahead.
Award-Winning
GFLCVB
Your Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention
& Visitors Bureau has been awarded the prestigious Meetings & Conventions
2007 Gold Service Award by M&C’s subscribers.
Tourism
Sales Update
During the UK Sales Mission, Alfredo Gonzales had
the mic for 9 interviews by a radio station in London, which were broadcast
throughout England, Ireland and Scotland. LaCumbre comes to the Westin
Diplomat Resort, Sept. 5-7 . In September, the CVB hosts a series of educational
seminars in Mexico in conjunction with Carnival Cruises. Tourism Sales
is in final preparations for the first-ever oversees football game featuring
the Dolphins vs. Giants in London on October 28. Both the MIACVB and
the GFLCVB will be inviting top industry partners and press to a day of American
Football, with tailgate party client event.
Broward
County Announces Request for Letters of Interest to build world-class Convention
Center hotel
The Broward County Board of County Commissioners has published a proposal seeking
parties interested in the development, construction and operation of a 1,000-room,
world-class headquarters hotel to be built immediately adjacent to the Greater
Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. Responses to the detailed proposal are expected
by September 13, 2007, with presentations and selection scheduled for November
1, 2007. A Master Planning team was selected in March 2005 in anticipation of
a hotel development project to allow for a development team with an appropriate
capital structure to formulate a proposal to ensure an opening in 2011.
2008
Meeting Planners Guide
Advertising sales will come to a close in Oct for the 2008 edition of our award-winning
official Meeting Planners Guide. This award-winning guide specifically for the
meeting planner, is distributed through direct mail, sales missions and industry
shows. A virtual planner on sunny.org will accompany the printed piece. Contact:
Sharon Kyryliw, Worth International, (305) 828-0123, ext. 103, sharon@worthit.com
August
Convention Sales Update
Groups meeting in August generate more than $25 million to Broward County.
Sample groups include:
Aug
2-4: Florida State Guardianship Assn (160 attendees): Hyatt Regency Bonaventure
- featured speakers include CBS Ch. 4's Dr. Sean, Bob Butterworth, Elaine Schwartz,
and more. Visit www.floridaguardians.com
Aug 3-8: Freya Communications Internext (800 attendees)
Aug 3-10: Bostrom Microscopy & Micro Analysis (3,000 attendees)
Aug 5-8: Global RCBI Conference Solutions Project 453 - FDOT (75 attendees)
Aug 8-11: National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (200 attendees)
Aug 8-21: United Transportation Union Convention (950 attendees)
Aug 12-18: Phi Delta Phi Annual Meeting (150 attendees)
Aug 17-25: Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Assn. LandWarNet 2007
(1,000 attendees)
Aug 20-26: Florida Medical Assn. Annual Meeting (550 attendees)
Aug 24-29: 2007 Experient Client Conference (370 attendees)
Aug 28-Sept 10: Classic Soul Cruise & Travel Classic Soul Cruisers (500
attendees)
Aug 29-Sept 2: American Student Dental Association (422 attendees)
Multiculturally
Speaking
Fort Lauderdale was the proud host of the National Organization of Law Enforcement
Executives (NOBLE), with more than 2,000 in attendance, exceeding original
expectations by 800. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was a keynote speaker.
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes 8 family reunions to our sunny shores
in August. Albert Tucker, VP of Multicultural Business Development, was appointed
by VISIT FLORIDA to serve on the promotions committee, government relations
committee and multicultural committee for 2007-2008.
Sport
Lauderdale
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes the following sports groups in August,
with 13,500 competitors plus family and friends:
July 27-Aug 3: US Open Junior Judo Championships
July 28-Aug 3: Ntl. Public Parks Tennis Championships
Aug 2-5: AABC Regional Baseball Tournament
Aug 11-18: 45th Lee Evans Bowling Tournament of the Americas
Aug 24-26: Hoop it Up 3on3 National Finals
Aug 28-Sept 5: National Soccer Coaches Clinic & Showcase
Aug 31-Sept 3: USA Judo Fall Classic/Ladder Event, Coral Springs
Sports
Hall of Fame Auction Donation
Save
the date for the 2007 Broward County Sports Hall of Fame honoring Broward's
sports legends, Tuesday, October 16 at the Broward Convention Center. Look for
your invitation soon and announcement of the Class of 2007. The festivities
kick off with a cocktail reception and silent auction. Help us make the auction
a success by donating a certificate or prize package. Please contact Saskia
Fisher, sfisher@broward.org, to donate
an item.
Michael
Irvin Hall of Fame Celebration
To celebrate Michael
Irvin's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH, PlayMakers
Charities and Foundation, Inc. is hosting a dinner and fundraiser on Aug. 7
at Chima Steakhouse on Las Olas Blvd. Tickets are $150, which include a meet
and greet with Michael Irvin, dinner, drinks and live entertainment. Auction
items include an $8,500 Giantto time piece from Levinson Jewelers. Contact Soulon
Johnson for tickets, sjohnson@playmakercharity.com,
(305) 444-4435.
Hoop
it up
The 2007 Hoop
It Up 3-on-3 Basketball World Championships are coming to Gulfstream Park in
Hallandale Beach on Aug. 25-26. To enter your team (up to 5 players) or for
ticket infomation, visit www.hoopitup.com
or call (888) 997-PLAY.
Florida
Panthers Face-Off Luncheon
You are invited
to join general manager and head coach Jacques Martin at the Woodfield Country
Club in Boca Raton on Monday, September 24, as he shares his plan for
the 2007-2008 Florida Panthers sesason. Individual tickets $85, table $800,
sponsorship $5,000. Call (954) 835-7715.
Winterfest
Boat Parade sets sail from downtown
After 35 years,
the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade is changing its route and will
now sail from the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The change in the parade
route will present the opportunity for an estimated 250,000 additional live
viewers, which brings the event well over one million. The new staging area
starts the parade route west of Broward Performing Arts Center, past Esplanade
Park stretching to Las Olas Riverfront, then traveling east from Sailboat Bend
to connect with its previous route along the Intracoastal Waterway and continue
north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. Also, new this year will be the
Grand Marshal Showboat – the Grand Floridian 125 ft, five deck mega yacht
hosting 400 passengers along with this year’s Grand Marshal. This year's
parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 15. For more info and parade route
map, visit www.winterfestparade.com.
High
Heel Hike
The Fort Lauderdale
High Heel Hike™, the official Glam event of Winterfest 2007, will turn
up the Glam at Galleria Mall on October 6. Hikers of all ages will ‘strut
their stuff’ while raising funds to benefit young women affected by breast
cancer. Hundreds of divas and dudes will bring a new meaning to the word fashionista
as the sassiest glam-aholics gather to Go For The Crown! Rub elbows with celebrity
Divas and score a little swag while you’re there. Slip on your Choos and
lace up your Louboutins. For details and registration info, visit www.highheelhike.com.
Hotel
News
From Aug 1-Sept 30, a group of Superior Small Lodging properties and gay-owned
guesthouses will offer a special promotion for 4th night free. Visit
www.sunny.org/ssl and www.sunny.org/rainbow
for participating hotels. Amerisuites on SE 17th Street will become the
Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Airport North in the fall, and will have
several newly renovated rooms available in the next few weeks. Las Palmas
Hotel & Suites will be renamed the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites
effective September 24, 2007. The full-service Courtyard by Marriott Fort
Lauderdale Beach is scheduled to open October 2007, featuring 261 water-view
rooms.
Dine
Out Lauderdale
Get ready for
the first annual DINE OUT LAUDERDALE presented by American Express from
October 1-November 15 with special $35 dinner menus at 35 top Broward restaurants.
Enjoy specially created fixed-price, three-course dinner menus for $35 at: 15th
Street Fisheries, 3030 Ocean at the Harbor Beach Marriott, Aizia at The Westin
Diplomat Resort, Beach Watch, Blue Moon Fish Co., Bragozzo Osteria Wine Bar,
Cafe Maxx, Café Vico, Cero at the St. Regis Fort Lauderdale, Coco Asian
Bistro & Bar, Cohiba Brasserie, Council Oak at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel,
East City Grill, Fish - A Restaurant, Food Amongst the Flowers, Four Rivers
Contemporary Thai Kitchen, Galanga Thai Kitchen & Sushi Bar, Grill Room
at The Riverside Hotel, Hi-Life Cafe, Himmarshee Bar & Grill, Ireland's
Steakhouse at Hyatt Regency Bonaventure, La Barraca, Latitudes at the Hollywood
Beach Marriott, Le Bistro, Links Restaurant & Lounge, Lola's on Harrison,
Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant & Dinner Show, Mancini's, Mark's Las Olas,
Pa Degennaro's, Sassi's Italian Restaurant, Shula's on the Beach, Sugar Reef
Tropical Grill, Tatiana Restaurant, Trina at The Atlantic. Visit www.sunny.org/dineout
for details and menus.
Good
Eats
Gold
Pin Award: In partnership with the GFLCVB and TravelHost, American Express
recognizes one restaurant per month for the value and quality of food and overall
experience, outstanding customer service and their tenure, growth and commitment.
Congratulations to East City Grill on receiving this month's Gold Pin
recognition. The
popular Las Olas Urban Gourmet Farmer's Market will hold their event
every Sunday from 9am-4pm, beginining Aug 5, at 1201 East Las Olas, adjacent
to Las Olas Chemist. Find homemade hummus, salsa and guacamole, orchids and
holistic massage. Call (954) 462-4166 for more info. Sidelines Sports Bar,
in Wilton Manors, hosts its first Dart Tournament on Weds, Aug 8 at 8pm and
will continue weekly throughout the summer, with prizes for first, second and
third place winners. Enjoy surf music from the 60's at the Mai-Kai, as
they present the Florida surfband Cutback on Friday, Aug. 3 at 6pm. Gulfstream
Park Racing & Casino introduces Christine Lee's restaurant, replacing
Chase Lounge on the third floor. Christina Lee's is renowned for its prime steaks
and Asian cuisine. Benihana celebrated its award-winning makeover and
reopening in style last week at Commercial and the Intracoastal in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea.
Nicki Grossman participated in the opening ceremony with Joel Schwartz, Benihana
Chairman and CEO.
The Plane
Facts: FLL News
Recently, both
of Broward County's airports, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
(FLL) and North Perry Airport (NPA) received high marks for safety on their
annual inspections. FLL, which is inspected annually by the FAA, received a
rating of "zero discrepancies" for the 9th consecutive year. The NPA
airport was named "General Aviation Airport of the Year" by FDOT and
will be featured on the cover of the 2008 Florida Airport Directory. Air
Jamaica began service from Barbados in late July, with three flights per
week. JetBlue announces new nonstop service between FLL and Ponce, Puerto
Rico, beginning Nov. 5; and nonstop service from Buffalo and Syracuse on Nov.
8. Spirit Airlines starts service from Managua, Nicaragua on Aug. 2,
and Ponce on Nov. 1. The new Allegiant Airlines announces service from
12 cities. American Airlines adds service from San Jose, Costa Rica and
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic beginning Dec. 13.
Tours
and Transportation
Dragonfly Expeditions, "Purveyors of Uncommon Adventures,"
offers customized private soft-adventure excursions for individuals and groups
that emphasize the ecology, culture, history, and people of a destination. Greater
Fort Lauderdale tours include Las Olas art tour, bike tour along the New River,
nautical history tour, horseback tour in Davie, Seminole heritage tour, and
the new Movie Madness tour highlighting films that were shot in Broward. Journeys
are by appointment only. Visit www.dragonflyexpeditions.com.
USA Transportation
continues its special 2-for-1 Offer: Buy one transfer (at retail price
inclusive of all fees and gratuity) from FLL airport to any Greater Fort Lauderdale
hotel, destination or residence and receive the return transfer for $25. (954)
602-8990, www.usatrans.com. The
round trip must be prepaid via MC, VISA, DISC or AMEX and is not refundable.
All transfer information must be available at time of booking. Airport fees,
airport parking, port fees, tolls, driver gratuity, fuel surcharges and service
tranportation charges are included in the price.
Port
Report
Port Everglades
welcomes six new cruise ships to its fleet this winter, three of which are making
their U.S. debuts. In total, Port Everglades expects to host 3.2 million passengers
(embarking and disembarking) sailing aboard 40 cruise ships from 15 cruise lines
this coming winter season. New ships include: Costa Cruises' Costa Fortuna
(2,720 passengers, arrives Nov. 17), Cunard Line's Queen Victoria (1,980
passengers, arrives Jan. 16 for one day only, just one month after her maiden
voyage in Europe), Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' Bremen (164 passengers, May 19,
before embarking to Halifax), Princess Cruises Emerald Princess (2,600
passengers, arrives Oct. 27)and Royal Princess (710 passengers, arrrives
Dec. 22), and Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas (3,114 passengers,
sails from Nov 18-Apr 2008).Visit www.broward.org/port.
Arts
& Entertainment News
Congratulations
to the Florida Grand Opera, the nation's 7th largest opera company, for
setting attendance and revenue records in its 2006-2007 season. Nearly half
of all 53 performances were sold out, resulting in an overall season capacity
of 91.4%. Tickets for the 2007-2008 season are on sale now with favorites such
as Mozart's Cosi fan tutti, Bellini's Tosca, Puccini's La bohème,
Handel's Julius Caesar. Visit www.fgo.org.
The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society presents Wish You Were Here:
Postcard Art from the Past, ongoing through August. The Fort Lauderdale
International Film Festival seeks volunteers from August-November to help
prepare for the 22nd annual event in October. Work days and times are flexible
with a variety of responsibilities, from office help to deliveries, to language
translation. The volunteer meeting will be held Aug. 27, 6pm, at Cinema Paradiso,
followed by the film Hollywood Dreams at 8:30pm (free for volunteers). For info,
contact (954) 525-FILM. Heritage Fort Lauderdale, Expressions of a Legacy:
Visit any of these four sites (Stranahan House, Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
Historical Society, Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum at Okalee) and get $3 off each admission
ticket. Visit www.heritagefortlauderdale.com
New specialty
shops at The Galleria
The Galleria
at Fort Lauderdale continues to add new retail experiences to its already popular
mix of stores and restaurants. A host of great stores have recently opened,
including Apple, BCBG Max Azria, Cole Haan, J. Crew, Kay Jewelers, Renu Skin
Center, Soma, Swarovski and Touch Clothing. Williams Sonoma and Nine West are
increasing their presence with more retail space, while Dillard's is completing
a major interior renovation with expanded merchandise categories. Opening soon
are Abercrombie Kids and Guess, plus another dining venue, which will be announced
at a later date.
Lauderhill
City Hall Park Renamed
Lauderhill City Commissioners unanimously approved the renaming of City Hall
Park, located at 1900 NW 55th Ave, to John E. Mullin Park, in honor of
the late Commissioner Mullin, who dedicated years of service to the City of
Lauderhill.
Happenings
Around Town
Florida Marlins Home Games: Aug 1-5, 14-20, 27-29
Through Aug 12: Got No Strings, Art & Culture Center of Hollywood
Through Aug 18: Art of Asia, Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Aug 2: HippieFest, Hard Rock Live
Aug 2-3: High School Musical, Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Aug 3-5: Thomas & Friends Live, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Aug 3-5: Bass Pro Shops' Fall Hunting Classic
Aug 3: Cutback surf music, Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant
Aug 4: Air Supply, Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino
Aug 4: First Annual Native American Blues Festival, Hard Rock Live
Aug 4-5: Dolphin Antique Show, War Memorial Auditorium
Aug 5: SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch, Riverwalk, downtown Fort Lauderdale
Aug 8-12: Shout! The Mod Musical, Parker Playhouse
Aug 10: Broadwalk Friday Fest, featuring Musica Folkloria de Puerto Rico, Hollywood
Beach Theater
Aug 11-12: Florida Beach Volleyball Tournament, Hollywood Beach
Aug 14: Macy Gray, Hard Rock Live
Aug 16: Kathy Griffin, Hard Rock Live
Aug 17: Lou Gramm, Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino
Aug 17: Grease, Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Aug 17-18: U.S. Hot Rod Monster Jam, BankAtlantic Center
Aug 18: Dem Three Jamaican Tenors, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Aug 18: Chris MacDonald's Memories of Elvis, Broward Center for the Performing
Arts
Aug 19: Doobie Brothers and Peter Frampton, Hard Rock Live
Aug 23: Joe Walsh, Hard Rock Live
Aug 24: Broadwalk Friday Fest, featuring Tango Nuevo, Hollywood Beach Theater
Aug 25: Shakti Dance Company, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Aug 25: Taylor Hicks, Pompano Beach Amphitheater
With all best wishes,
Nicki E. Grossman
President
